US Trinseo could achieve ’25 industrial scale for recycled PC

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Trinseo could achieve industrial scale production of recycled polycarbonate (PC) using its dissolution technology in 2025, the CEO said on Monday.

“Through this ongoing investment, and our ability to repurpose the idled PC production line in Stade, Germany, for this process, we expect to be able to achieve industrial scale production beginning in 2025 with a low capital expenditure,” said Frank Bozich, CEO. He made his comments during an earnings conference call.

The company already has started a pilot plant in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, and it is producing samples of recycled PC for its customers, Bozich said.

Trinseo’s dissolution process relies on solvents to recover PC from mixed waste, which can include metal, glass or other types of plastics, Bozich said. He described the process as physical versus mechanical or chemical.

Because Trinseo can use waste as a feedstock, production costs at industrial scale could be lower than traditional methods of producing virgin PC, Bozich said.

The PC extracted from Trinseo’s dissolution process is on par with virgin PC, Bozich said. The recycled PC contains lower levels of bisphenol A (BPA), which could open up new applications that are off limits to virgin material.

Trinseo’s process emits up to three times less carbon dioxide (CO2) versus traditional PC production, Bozich said.

The process can recover PC from consumer electronics or automotive parts, he said.

Trinseo can take automotive headlamps that are low quality, off grade or at the end of their life, recycle the PC and return it to its customers so they can make a new headlamp using the material, Bozich said. Trinseo has done this with interior door panels and consumer electronics, and they have met the quality requirements of the customers.

Bozich envisions establishing closed-loop partnerships with automotive, electronics and consumer goods producers.

Thumbnail shows a compact disc, which is made with PC. Image by ICIS.